Marketing and Promoting
Marketing and promoting your group
Capturing the attention of users, funders and stakeholders is just one part of marketing. Marketing isn't just for big companies - image, customer satisfaction and reputation are just as important for community groups.Making sure your services and projects meet the needs of the local community, your existing users, stakeholders and funders is the key to success.
Groups are often already working on marketing - but calling it something else:
- Consultation/ research
- Networking and giving presentations
- Events
- Supporting users
- Filling in monitoring forms for funders
- Keeping in touch with local council officers and Councillors
You don't need a large marketing budget to make a difference to the way your group is seen and how many people access your services.
Not sure where to start?
Using the links down the left hand side will provide you with some ideas.
How does marketing link to funding?
There are many links between marketing and funding. Here are just a couple for you to think about.
1. What is the need for your project?
Funders want to give money to projects that are really needed. With market research and feedback from users, you can show how important your project is to local people.
A survey of voluntary and community groups in Bradford found that the top 3 needs were for:
- funding advice
- recruiting volunteers/ active members and
- marketing support.
2. How good are your relationships with users, funders and stakeholders?
With marketing and good customer care, you can keep up the communication with people who are already interested in your project and those new to what you offer. Make sure you focus on a few key messages that really explain what your group aims to do in an easy to understand way.
Knowing how to present your case and building a professional image will go a long way towards helping your future sustainability.
This information was developed for voluntary and community groups in Bradford District and funded by NRF and CBMDC.
